Grain-binder



(No Model.) 6 Sheets- Sheet 2.

G. G. HUNT.

l GRAIN BINDER. No. 399,536. Patented Mar. l2, 1889.

'ul mimi; i wlmi? m,

(No Model.)

6 Sheets-Sheet. G. G. HUNT.

GRAIN BINDER:l

Patented Mar. 12, 1889.

(No Model.) sheets-sheet 4.

G. G. HUNT.

GRAIN BINDER. No. 399,536. PatentedMaJ'. l2, 1889. e N `||l| I||v HNHK llmlunmm W z ma. t www rq $0 6 Sheets-Sheet 5. e. e. HUNT.

GRAIN BINDER.

(No Model.)

Patented Mer. 12. 1889.

.ummmmmLL www- 6 sheets-sheet e.

(No Model.)

G. G. HUNT. GRAIN BINDER.

No. 399,536. Patented Mar. 1 2, 1889.

llamen rarasaTnNT Ottica.

GEORGE G. HUNT, OF BRIS'OL, ILLNOIS, ASSIGNOR TO 'lllE PLANO MAF- Fr\(."l`URING COMPANY, OF PLANO, lLLlNOlS.

GRAIN-BINDER.

S? CIFKGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 399,536, dated March 12, 1889.

Application led January l5, 1887. Serial No. 224,481. (No model.)

To (all 'Lz/'7mm it mr/l/ concern:

Be it known that I, Gnoncn G. HUNT, a citizen ot' the United States, residing at Bristol, in the county et' Kendall and State ot Illinois, have invented certain new and useful lii1} ii'o\'einents in (lrain-l'limlers, which are li'ully set Yl'orth in the following specification, reference being had 1o the aecompanying drawings, in which- Figure l represents a transverse section oli' a machine embodying my improvements, looking from the rear ol the harvester; Fig. 2, an elevation of the forward portion of: the grain-binder, lookin from thc stubble side of the machine, and with some portion of the grain-table brok en awa v5 Fig. I3, a detail seetion oi the same, taken on the line .1' .11, Fig. i; Fig. l, a similar section taken on the line y y, Fig. 2; Fig. 5, an elevation of the binder, looking from the front oi' the harvester; Fig. G, a detail plan of the tripping mechanism; Fig. 7, a detail section of the same, taken on the line a, Fig. il; Figs. S and 9, detail views of the trilii-arm and support detached; Fig. l0, a plan of the inner face of the sprocketwheel at the ifoiwvard end ol the main or binding shaft; Fig. ll, a detail plan ot' the knotter-t'rame and its adjacent parts; Fig. l2, a plan section taken on the line u a, Fig. l; Fig. 123, a detail section taken on the line-r r, Fig. l Fig. 14, a detail plan section of the mechanism tor operating the cord tucker and cutter; Fig. l5, a plan of the cord-cutter detached; Fig. lo, a detail section. taken on the line 'a' fr, Fig. il.; Fig. i7, a perspeeti ve view of the device 'for operating the cord-cutter; Fig. le", a plan view of the bracket-arm; Fig. 21), a lfront elevation of the same; Fig. 2o, a vertical section of the friction-clutch mechanism; Fig. 2l, a sectional view the same as Fig. l, but enlarged; Fig. 21a detail front elevation showing the lmotter-frame, cordholder frame, and eonilected parts, and Fig. 23, a plan olf the pawl, detaelud, which operates the cord-hoh'ler.

The vligures ot the drawings up to and ir.- eluding Fig. l0 are on the same scale. rlhe remaining tigures are also on the same scale, but enlarged Ytrom the former.

My invention relates to automatic grainbinders in which packers and automatic triping devices are used lor the purpose of torming and sizing the bundles.

rlhe invention relates to improvements in various parts of the machine, which will be hereinafter fully set forth.

l will proceed to describe in detail the construction and operation oli' a machine in which my present invention is practically embodied in one way, and will then point out definitely in the claims the improvements l believe to be new andv desire to protect bv Letters Patent.

The main parts oi the harvesting-machine may be of any usual construction, and therefore l have notshown them fully in the drawings and shall not attempt to describe them, except as there mayv be oc Iasien to allude to some ot' them incidentally in the description of the construction and application of my present improvements.

ln the drawings, A represents the binden frame, which is usually located outside of the main wheel of the harvester, o being the cross-sill, a the inclined supports which extend upward and inward over the main wheel, and d? braces running to the elevator-frame. The usual inclined grain-table A isat-tached to and supported by this t'rame in any ordil nary way, and the grain is delivered at its upper end by any ordinary eleva-tor. The driving-shaft l, which communicatesmotion to the mechanism of the binder, shown below the grain-table, and is in this instance provided with a sproelietwheel, l), which reeeives motion from the harvester-gearing. At one end et this shaii't there is a gear-pinion, b', which imparts motion to the various devices of the binder, as will be presently described. as it is sometimes called, C is xed on a shaft, c, which is also shown arranged below the grainltable. A gear wheel or sector, c', is mounted on the binding-arm shaft, being se cured thereto in any suitable manner. In the drawings it is shown `fastened to thebinding-arm itself by means ot' a bolt, e?. This sector may be on the hub ol' the biluling-arm, if desired. It is simply a matter of convenience how it shall be secured io the shaft, the only object being to have it move with the binding-arm. 'lhe binding-arm shaft passes The binding-arm or nee Ille-ar1n,7-

through a long sleeve, c3, running underneath the grain-table, and on this sleeve near the binding-arm is mounted a bracket, D, which may be fastened to the sleeve by any suitable device. In Fig. 2 of the drawings a bindingscrew is shown for this purpose. This bracket extends outward and downward slightly in a direction parallel to t-he path of the bindingarm, and at its outer end is a stud-shaft, d, arranged at right angles thereto and across the plane of the binding-arm movement. Near the bracket an arm, d', is mounted loosely on this stud-shaft. In Fig. i3 of the drawings it is shown on a sleeve or collar upon the shaft. At one end this arm is Venlarged into a toothed sector, which engages with the similar device attached to the binding-arm, and at lthe other end it extends beyond this shaft and is slightly tapered, as seen in Fig. l of the drawings.' An arm, d2, is also mounted loosely on this saine shaft and arranged in the same plane as the binding-arm. It is preferably made with an enlarged hub, which extends along the shaft on each side of the arm, as shown in Fig. 13 of the drawings. This arm extends up through the grain-table, as shown in Fig. l of the drawings, being held in such position by a spring, (Z3, coiled around its hub and attached at one end to the arm and at the other to a crank-arm, di', fastened to the end of the studshaft and extending inward therefrom. Itis obvious that this arm in the position named above stands across the path of the grain. Its purpose is to form a yielding grain-stop against which the bundle is formed for binding, but which does not afford serious resistance to the discharge of the latter when bound. It has no other function. Obviously this spring must be stronger than the tripspring. A compressor, D', is also mounted on this same stud-shaft. lt. is composed of two pieces or arms arranged one on each side of the arm (Z2 and mounted loosely on thehub of the latter, as shown in Figs. 2 and 13. These pieces are connected together near their outer ends by a bolt, d5, from which a rod, d, extends back to the outer end of the sector-arm d', through which it passes, and is secured by some suitable device on its projecting end. A spring, CV, surrounds this connecting-rod in the space between the compressor and the sector-arm. These ,are details in the construction of the compressor which may be variously changed.

t is obvious that the movement of the binding-arm in its plane will vibrate the geared sector-arm, thereby imparting a corresponding movement to the compressor, `so that the latter will be brought up against the bundle in front when the binding-arm closes, and the spring between the compressor and sectorarm permits the formerto yield as may be necessary in the operation of compressing and binding the bundle.

Constructed as above described, the bolt connecting the two parts of thel compressor will strike against the grain-stop cl2 as it is thrown up in front of the bundle, and in any further movement forward these two will move together.

At the front end of the machine a bracket, CL3, preferably of metal, rises from suitable supports on the frame, and a rod, a4, preferably gas-pipe, extends rearward from the upper inner corner of this bracket, while at the outer edge thereof stands the post portion a of the frame for the main or cam shaft of the binding mechanism. A second bracket, d, is arranged some distance in rear of the former,

being securedat its inner end to the sleeve A portion of the support af.

The usual main or cam shaft, E, is mounted in its sleeve-support, and at its forward end is provided with a driving-wheel, c, which in this instance is a sprocket or chain wheel. The packer-shaft F is mounted inthe front and rear brackets, CL3 a, mentioned above, is therefore located some distance above the grain-table, and is provided at its front end with a chain or sprocket wheel,f. A gearwheel,l12, is mounted on a short shaft in such position as to engage with the gear-pinion b on the driving-shaft, and upon its front face is provided with a sprocket or chain wheel, b3, either made in one piece therewith or attached thereto. The sprocket-wheels c j' b3 are in the same plane, and a drive-chain, B', runs over them, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. It is obvious, then, that motion from the driving-shaft B will be communicated to the wheel b2, and thereby communicate the proper motion to the drive-chain for the purpose of rotating the wheels e f and the shafts to which they are attached.

The packers F are mounted on cranks on the Packer-shaft Ain the usual manner, and their upper ends are connected by links f to studs f2, which are sleeved on the gas-pipe above the packer-shaft, as shown in Fig. l ot' the drawings. These sleeves are secured to the gas-pipe by means of a binding-screw, f3, or other device, and hence may be adjusted both laterally on the rod or gas-pipe and around it, so that they may not only be fixed in the proper plane of the packers, but may also be regulated to vary the throw of the latter, by turning them back and forth, and thereby regulate the point at which they will strike into the infiowing grain, and also their approach to the grain-table.

It will be seen, then, that-in my present improvement the packers are arranged above the grain-table and inflowin g grain instead of below, as is usual, though this arrangement is not new, broadly considered. The packers are arranged one on each side of thebindingarm, and are constructed and adj usted so that they reach inward toward the elevator beyond the path through which the binding-arm moves and bring the grain down into the receptacle between the grain-table and the breast-plate against the grain-stop to form the bundle beneath an independent trip, which will be de-` IOO IIO

scribed presently. Provision is also iliade for making the operation of the packers intermittent, so that they will be stopped during the operation of binding the bundle and will be started when the latter is completed and the binding-arm opened again, and the mechanism whereby this is acctnnplished is constructed to operate so as to stop the packershaft at fixed points, determined for the purpose of leaving the blade of one of the packers, when at rest, alongside of the binding-arm when closed around the gavel, but either slightly in front or rear of the binding-arm, according as it is the front or rear packer which is stopped alongside of the bint'ling-arm. The packer, stopping' in this position, acts as a eutoft to separate the inilowing grain from the gavel, and `lj'or the purpose of aiding this operation and securing a good separation the blade of the packers is preferably made quite wide.

The -n'iechaliism which l have shown in the drawings, by means of which the packers are driven `internlittently, is as follows: A disk, (l, made fast to the packer-shaft, and is provided with an elongated hub, g. The sprocketwheel f is loose on the packer-shaft, being mounted thereon by means of a hub-sleeve,

f4, fitted loosely upon the hub g of the disk,

'as shown in Fig, 7 of the drawings. A spring frictitm-clutch is connected to the disk and applied to the hub of the sprocketwheel. rlhe clutch which I have shown in the drawings is not of my invention, but

is old and well known in its general features. l will briefly refer to its construction. It is composed of two half rings or bands, g g2, which are applied to the hub of the wheel and are connected together at one end by lugs and the bolt passing through them. The other end of the section g is connected to the disk by means of a lug, g3, on the latter, through which a pin, g, passes loosely, the pin being rigid on a lug, gi', projectii-ig outward radially from the ring. A spring, g, surrounds this pin, the force of which is exerted to push the lug on the ring away from that on the disk, or, in other words, separate the two. A pin, gl, passes through a slot in the free end of the ring-section g2, and at itsinnerendisprovided with a T-head, with which the ends of the two ring-sections engage on opposite sides bymeans of notches made therein. 'lhe outer end of the pin is engaged by a short stud, g8, on the disk. The action of the spring g is to force the band around in the direction of the headed pin, and the vibration of the latter upon its fulcrnm-stud thus causedproduees a tightening or clamping of the ring-sections upon the hub, thereby connecting the disk to the hub of the driving sprocket-wheel, and so rotating the packer-shaft. The movement of the sectionrings in the opposite direction against the force of the spring willproduce the contrary effect, loosening them upon the hub, and so disconnecting the wheel from the shaft. ln

order to effect unclutchin ot' the wheel from the shaft, so as to stop the packers at the proper time, two radial lugs, gi g/l", are arranged on the rings diametrically opposite each other, and a lever, II, pivoted to the front end ofthe machine, the upper end of which terminates in a toe, 71 adapted to engage with these last-named lugs. A spring, 71,', of any suitable construction and arrangement, is applied to this lever, so that its force will beexcrted to vibrate the lever and throw the upper end into engagementwiththeclutchrings. 'lhe lower end of the lever is brought into the plane of a bell-crank lever, Il', mounted loosely on the shaft of the bindingarm, the upper member, 7x2, of t-he leverbeing arranged in contact with the end of the lever ll, while the lower member, 719i, is provided with a pin 'passing' underneath the crank-arm c" of the binding-arm shaft. These parts are so arranged and adjusted that when the binding-arm is thrown open and the crank-arm on its shaft is brought into the position shown in Fig. 5, the lower member of the bell-crank lever will be depressed sullicicntly to throw the upper member against the lower end of the lever ll, thereby vibrating it in such way as to disengage the lever from the frictionclutch. The sprocket-wheel will then at once be clutched to the packer-shaft and the packers will be set in motion. As soon as the gavel formed, however, and the binding mechanism set in rnotion by the trip, the crank-arm at once rises from the position shown in Fig. 5, thereby releasing the bell-crank lever and so the lever ll, which, under the influence of its spring, is at once caused to engage with the clutch, thereby loosening it and so stopping the packers.

The lugs on the friction-clutch, as already explained, are arranged opposite to each other, and the lever Il is arranged relatively thereto, so that at the pointof engagement with one of the lugs the packers will be stopped with one of them in the position relative to the binding-arm which has been described above, lt' the lever is in time to come just in :iront of one of the lugs, the packers will be stopped almost instantly. lt', however, t-he devices should be in position shown in Fig. 7, when the lever moves inward it will pass just behind the first lug and will engage with the n ext one, thus permitting nearly a half-revolution of the packer-shaft before stopping, and obviously there may be variations in these relations at the points between the two positions named, which will permit some movement of the packer-sl1aft,lcss,however, than a half-revolution. Inno ease, however, is this movement snflieient to interfere with thejn'oper separation of thegavel front the intlowing grain. I have described this mechanism for connectin g and disconnecting the packer-shaft and its driving-wheel only as an illustration of one way in which the result may be accomplished, and, as stated, the special clutchmechanism is notan invention IIO of my own. Any other suitable mechanism for this purpose may be employed.

The crank-arn1 on the end of the bindingarin shaft is connected by a pitman, J, to a similar crank-arm on the end of the main or cam lshaft in the usual way and for the usual purpose. An automatic tripping mechanism is provided for stoppin and starting the binding devices, which I will now describe. The wheel e is loose on its shaft and is provided with a flange-rim, on the inside of which are clutch-lugs or projections e. A bracketwor carrier, E', for the clutch-pawl is secured to the shaft inside of this wheel. This carrier has on its inner face a stud-pin, e2, on which is mounted the pawl e, to which is applied a spring, e4, in the usual manner, so that its force will be exerted to throw the pawl forward toward the rim of the wheel. rlhis pawl is shaped as shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings, its toe being widened or extended outward laterally, so that it will project beyond the rim of the wheel, and is then turned forward, so as to form a projection, e5, beyond the rim of the wheel and radial thereto. The pawlcarrier also has a short arm or projection, e, extending outward from its upper edge in a direction about at right angles to its radius, and the outer edge of the carrier is elongated and presents a curved or cam surface, e7, and a notch, es, as .shown in FiO'. S of the drawings.

It will be understood that the pawl-carrier is located on the shaft, so that the pawl is thrownV forward under the influence of its spring and will engage with one of the clutch projections on the wheel, thereby clutching the wheel to the shaft for the purpose of turning the two together. A straight stop-arm, I, is pivoted at its lower end to the forward bracket, ai, and extends upward toward the clutch-pawl until its upper end will come into the path of the extreme end ei of the pawl. The upper end of the stop-arm passes through a suitable loop or keeper, c', which permits a limited vibration ofY the arm upon its pivot, suiiicient to enable it to be cleared from the path of the pawl. A spring, i', is applied to this stop-arm in the usual way, so that its force is exerted to hold the arm in the path of the pawl, so that it will engage with the latter. In this instance this spring is connected to the bracket by having one end wound around the pivot-hub of the arm and fastened thereto, and fastened at the other end securely to a socket-piece, i?, which is mounted in a circular slot, is, in the lower portion of the stop-arm, which is enlarged for this purpose. This spring-socket may be moved in the slot and secured in any position desired therein, so that it affords a ready means for regulating the tension of the spring, and consequently Aits force exerted upon the stop arm. The trip arm K is secured to a shaft, 7c, mounted in the front and rear brackets, heretofore mentioned, and arranged above the breast-plate. The triparm projects down from its shaft at one side of and below the breast-plate, as shown in Fig. l. flhe shaft 7,; at its outer end vis provided with a crank-arm, 7c', and a link-rod, k2, connects this arm with the upper end of the stop-arm. The breast-plate L is arranged in about the usual way above the grain-table, and is secured at its inner end to the gas-pipe or rod at the upper part of the frame, while its outer end is connected to the sleeve of the main or cam shaft by the knetter frame. Now, in normal position the tripping devices are as shown in Figs. l and 5 of the drawings. Obviously as the grain is brought down by the packers into the receptacle underneath the breast-plate and against the grain-stop it will finally reach the trip-arm, and the latter will be gradually raised, which movement will rock the shaft to which it is fastened, thereby gradually pulling the stop-arm away from the wheel e, until finally it is disengaged from the clutch-pawl, which will then at once be brought into engagement with the wheel and the binding mechanism started. It will be noticed that in this instance the trip Yarm is entirely disconnected from the grain-stop, against which the gavel is formed, and the bundle-conipressor, and, in fact, is located at a distance from them, and is arranged above the gavel, instead of in front of it.

It will be understood, of course, that when the bundle is discharged the trip is released from its stress and the stop-arm, under the influence of its spring, will drop into position to engage the clutch-pawl again, which will be effected as soon as it comes round into proper position, when of course the wheel and main or cam sh aft will be disengaged and the binding mechanism will be at rest. In order to lock the main or cam shaft against movement in either direction, the head of the stop-arm is enlarged, so that it will also stand in the path of the projection e@ and it is obvious that when this projection is brought down upon the head of the stop-arm the shaft is securely locked from any further movement in that direction. A rod or bolt, M, is mounted in suitable loops or keepers, m, on the frame below the main or cam shaft and in line with the pawl-carrier when the latter is at rest. The upper end of this rod is provided with a rounded head or projection, fm', on which is a friction-roller, which is adapted to enter and iit the notch e8 in the outer edge of the pawl-carrier. A spring, m2, around the bolt between its keepers acts to hold it up into engagement with the pawl-carrier, as shown in Fig. 7, in which position it securely locks the latter from any backward movement, so that, in connection with the preceding device described above, the carrier and shaft to which it is connected are locked firmly against movement in either direction. The curved or cam surface c7 on the pawh carrier comes in contact with the head of the bolt and will depress it until the notch is finally reached, and the devices are so con- IOO IIO

`strueted and adjusted relatively that the stoparnl will be engaged with the pawl and release it fronl the wheel just a little before lille looking-arm on the carrier reaches the t'ornler, while the sl'n'ing-bolt l\l intended lo be prollerly sealed ill its lloteh just at the tillle ot' engagement of said arlll wit-h the slop-arlll. In order to etect this and seeure pert'ectaoenraey or register ot' these looking devices, the sprintlot the loekingdloltis nlueh stronger than the springl of the pawl, alld. it is intended that when the latter is engaged with ille stop-arnl, so as to unclutoh the wheel, the lockinglbolt will be on the incline ot the notoh in the pawl-earrier and the superior strength ot' its spring will be sut'iieient to crowd the bolt forward npoll this ealll-sllrli'aee, thereby drivin thepawLQarl-ier forwarl'l alld turning' the shaft with it just enough to bring the loeking-arln dowll upoll the headioi the stop-arnl.

The breast-plate ll is providld with the usual slot, l, through which the head ot' the binding-alan passes to earl-y the eerd around thebundleandtothetying'nlechanisnl. This slot at its lower end bent tirst to the right and then to the lett, as shown ill Fig. l2 ot' the drawings, a eonstruction, however, not llew ill this application, As already stated, the inner elld oi the breast-plate is attached to the gas-pipe rod above the l'ront and rear braelcets. This is elli'ected by a link or rod, l. The iront end oi the breast-plate is secured to the lower end o llle kllotter-lranle L', the upper end ot' which is nloullted on the lllaill or eanl sllal'l'-an ordinary nlode ot' oonstruoiion wlliell lnali'es this i'rallle rigid.

The eord-llolder l'ralne il is hungl loosely on the nlain shall, so that it lnay swing to alld troln lille knollcr-lfranlc. A spring', n, is applied to this lralne ill slu'h way as to exert its l'oree to vibrate it l`roln the kllotter-lrall'le. This l aceonlpl'sll by colline* the said spring,` around the sleeve ol' the kuotler-tralne alld alt-taehing oneend lllereot" l'osaid sleeve, while the other end is attached to the oord-holder lrallle near its upper end, thus leaving the spaee between ille lower end of the said oordholder traine and t-lle hnotter-traine oleal'. This syn-ing` weak, so as to yield readily to the strain on the Cord caused by the tornling of the loop, so that thc fralne will readily swing' forward. toward the knetter-trame ullder tllis strain to `s l'ive sut'lieiellt cord tor the loep; but as soon as released the spring' will swinr the traine baelv away froln llle knettertraine. in the holder-traine is lnoullted all ordinary notched Cord holder, ll, which is provided with a slnall ratchet-wheel, n2, on its shaft-an ordillaryconstruction ot' these parts. For the operation oi' the oord-holder l provide a straight pawl, N', which is lnounted ill suit able guides on llle Cord-holder flallle, so that it lllay be llloved up alld down tllereoll by a straight sliding lllotion. The toe of this pawl is arranged to engage witll the teeth oi' the ratchet-wllccl on tbc cord -llolder, and it is the illside and lower `iaee ol tllis tappet, so

that when the )in lforecs the lawl downwardagainst the action ot' the spring' the latter will lift the pawl again as soon as it.- is released trolll the pill. ln the drawings this spring` is shown wound around a stud, n, on the Cord-holder tra-lne, one elld being Yfastened to the latter, while the other is extended un derneath the tappet.

A cord tucker or placer, I), is secured to a rock-shaft, p, which is nlonnted ill braoketbearings p on the knetter-traine alld extends upward to the nlain shaft, wllere it is provided with a crank-alan, p2. witll which a cannp, on the nlaill shaft engages at the proper time to oscillate this tncliersshatli. The cord-tucker is on the upper side ol the breast-plaie, arranged just at olle side oi' the slot ill the latter, and shaped about as shown ill Fig. '12 of the drawings, its outer edge (.olliornling gellerally with the upper bend ill the slot. It is raised a little above the breast-plate. lf desired, its edge nlay extend a little over the slot, so that ill its position ot' resl, as shown ill Fig'. l2, it will aceurately guide lhe cord to proper position on the bill ot' the knottinghook Q. A spring, pi, is wound aroulld the tucker-shat't and applied so as to hold the tuelier ill the position sllowll ill Fig. l2. The eanlrp:S rocks the shaft ill opposition to this spring at the proper tilne to turn the tncker downward and across llle slot, thereby guid- 'ing` alld placing" the cord down properly on the bill oi' the blotting-hook, and also holding the eorddown asthehook revolves. Then relieved troni the canl, the spring actsat once to tllrow the tuekerback into norlnalposition.

A cortl-supporter, R, is fastened to a rockshaft, l', which is nlonllted ill suitable bearings, l", on the opposite side ot' the slot ill the breast-plate. This supporter is in the forlll of all arnl, and a spring', r2, is wound around its shaft and applied ill such way as to hold the arlll ill llorlnal position direetly aeross the slot, as shown ill Fig. l2 of the drawings. At the upper elld ot the sha ft is a crank-arm, r, which is preferably provided with all antifrietion roller. The tendeney ot' the spring on the shaft is to hold thisera-lllc-arln up into Contact with the outer tace oli' the canl alld gear-wheel, as sllowll ill Fig. ll, and so long as the roller rests against the plane surface the supporting-arm will be held in the positioll shown ill Fig. l2. A cani groove or depression, o', is, however, nlade ill this face of the wheel, which perlnil's the erank-arnl at the proper tilne to vibrate inward, thereby rocking the shaft ulldertlle intluenceot the springt` ill sueh a direction as to throw the cord-sup- TOO IIO

port downward out of the way of -the cord. This groove is short, and as the roller passes out of it the parts resume their normal posiion,'described alove. This cord-support lies quite close to the breast-plate, so that its outer end,whcn across the slot, will be between the latter and the tucker.

The cutter S is on an arm, s, which extends upward at the front of the knetter-traine and is pivoted upon the end of the bracket-bearing p', as shown in Fig. '1. The upper end of this arm, extending beyond the pivot, is embraced by a fork, s', on a hollow shaft, s2, which is sleeved upon the shaft p, and is provided with a bent crank-arn'l, Sii, which exten ds outward and then upward to the main shaft, where it is brought into the path of a cam, s4, on said shaft, which acts to vibrate this arm, and so oscillate the shaft at the proper time to vibrate the cutter and sever the cord.

The knotting-hook Q is of the tying bill type and has nothing special in its construction, as here shown, except that the jaws are bent slightly at their outer ends toward the breast-plate, as shown in Fig. et of the drawings, which is to facilitate the stripping of the loop therefrom. Usually this knotting-hook, when at rest, stands directly across the slotin the breast-plate, and the loop must consequently be pulled directly outward to be stripped from the hook. I arrange the gearsection 02 on the wheel O, which drives the knotter, so that the latter will be stopped with the jaws thrown downward somewhat, as shown in Fig. 12 of the drawings, in which they are inclined about the same as the bend or inclination of the slot in the breast-plaie below. It is obvious that the loop may be stripped from the hook in this position by a pull downward, and this is effected by the discharge of t-he bundle alone through the medium of the discharge-arm U, thereby avoiding the necessity of any device for stripping the loop from the hook.

It is well known that the heavy butts of the grain have a tendency to lag, and in order to overcome this and bring the grain up evenly to the binding mechanism I provide an additional packer, T, near the forward end of the grain-table, which is mounted on a suit-able crank on the packer-shaft and is connected by a link, t, to a socket-piece, t', on the gaspipe. This packer operates directly upon the butts of the grain and facilitates the formation of the gavel straight along the grain-table. The device is not an absolute necessity,

but is an adjunct, the use of which will be found desirable, especially in long heavy grain.

Check-springs V are applied to the machine, if desired, and in this case the rear spring is attached to the rear bracket, which forms a convenient piece for this purpose. This construction is shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The binding mechanism being at the period of rest, the packers are in motion and the grain delivered at the uppor portion of the grain table is taken by the packers and brought down into the receptacle under the breast-plate against the yielding grain-stop and also against the cord, which lies in the usual position. As the gavel increases in size, it finally reaches the trip-arm above and graduall y raises the latter, and at length releases the stop-arm from the clutch-pawl, and the binding mechanism is set in operation, as above described. The binding-arm at once commences its closing movement, thereby bringing into operation the shipping devices of the packer-shaft, whereby the movement of the latter is stopped at a certain point, leaving one of the packers in position to act as a cut-oit, as described. During the formation of the gavel, and up to the time of closing the binding-arm around the gavel, the cordplacer, cord-supporter, and knotting-hook are in the position shown in Fig. l2 of the drawings. As the binding-arm closes, the compressor is brought un against the bundle in the manner already described, and as soon as the bindingarm is closed the cam on the main shaft operates the cord-placer to bring the strands down into proper position upon the jaws of the knotting-hook. The knotting-hook is then rotated in the usual manner to form the loop and stops with the end of its bill turned downward, as shown in Fig. 12. During this operation the cord-holder frame is pulled forward by the strain on the cord. The cord-cutter is then vibrated by the cam on the main shaft for this purpose and the frame falls backward under the influence of its retracting-spring. The pin on the cam and gear-shaft is located so as to operate the cord-holder at the proper time, as usual in these machines, and about t-he time the cord is cut. The cord-support is dropped away from the slot in the manner stated above, so as to let the strand down which has been resting upon it. Itis, however, returned to place almost immediately and just before the binding-arm opens, so that when the latter operation is performed the cord will be laid across the knot-ting-hook and this support. As the binding-arm is opened, the bound bundle is delivered from the table by the discharge-arm U, the compressor in the meantime having moved out of the way and the grain-stop offering only a feeble resistance, which is readily overcome by the discharge-arm. The stop-arm at once engages with the clutch-pawl, thereby stopping the motion of the` binding mechanism, which isV then locked by the devices and in the manner already described. At the same time the clutch on the packer-shaft is relieved from its stop-lever and the packers are again set in motion, when the operations just described are repeated.

It will be understood, of course, that the several devices which perform these operations are to be so arranged and adjusted that their operations will be timed to secure the results as above described. It will benoticed IOO IIO

that in this machine the binding mechanism and the packers are driven by chain gearing, and that one and the same chain drives both sets ot devices, and that this chain is in constant motion and is driven by a wheel which is a part ot' the binder-that is to say, its driving s1j roeketor shaft is disconnected trom the main frame of: the harvester.

It will also be noticed that the chain-wheels which drive the packer and binding shafts are provided with separate devices, whereby they are indepcnd ently connected to and disconnected from their respective shafts, so as to give an intermittent motion to each set of mechanism, the arraiigement and operation being such that the periods of motion and rest oli' the respective devices alternate.

It will also be noticed that the packers are arranged above the inllowing grain and stopped at a certain fixed point, whereby eertain results are obtained, which have already been mentioned; that the trip mechanism is entirely separate from the stop against which the gavel formed, and is also arranged above the gavel, and that the compressor does not constitute the stop against which the gavel is formed and is operated positively by the binding-arm.

The employment ot a grain-stop entirely separate and distinct :from the trip -mechanism and compressor has several advantages, among which are the following: In the operation ot' the machine, if the tripping function exercised by the grain-stop in case tangled grain should clog this stop and prevent its proper operation, the machine will not operate inthe proper manne i, since the binding mechanism will be in constant operation and will soon clog` the machine or so entangle the cord as to render stoppage necessary. Moreover, when the grain-stop acts as a compressor, any weakening of the springs or any disproportiou in their strength will be liable to startthe binding mechanism at the wrong time. As a direct advantage in the construction, the eniployment ol:l a separate grain-stop enables me to dispense with all operating mechanism therefor, the grain-stop being entirely disconnected from the other movable parts of the machine and not being dependent upon their efficiency i'or its operation. These are some ot' the leading features of my present ilnpro vement. There are several others of minor importance, however, which I need not take space to speciali y enumerate. I do not, however, claim as my invention the broad improvement of combining with the stopping and starting devices a bracket on the main or cam shaft and a spring locking-bolt engaging with the bracket and adapted to move the said shaft slightly after disconnection from its driving mechanism. I only claim as of my `invention the speciiic devices herein described and shown for this purpose.

It will be understood that I have shown and described a construction and organization oi' devices and mechanisms, whereby I have carried out my improvements iu a practical way. At the same time I do not wish to be understood as limiting my invention to all of these devices in detail, or to their particular construct-ion and arrangement, for, as in all machines, many variations may be made without departing from the leading features which characterize the improvement. In the practical use of myinvention I claim the right to make changes ot this description, so long as I retain the distinguishing features oi my improvements.

IIaving thus described my invention, what I claim as new, an d desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a grain-binder, the grain-table, in combination with a binding-arm mounted below the table, a Wicker-shaft mounted above the table over the bindi ng-arm shaft and provided with cranks, vibrating packer-arms mounted on said cranks and extending inward over the table, and shipping mechanism for the packer-shaft constructed to operate atroci-tain predetermined points, whereby the packershaft is always stopped with one of the packers projected inward and downward, substantially as and for the purposes speeitied.

2. In agrain-binder, the grain-table, in combination with a binding-arm mounted below the table, a packer-shaft mounted above the table and provided with cranks, vibrating picker-arms mounted on said cranks and extending inward over the table, and shippin mechanism for stopping and starting the packer-shaft, constructed and arranged to stop the latter at a point which will leave one of the packer-arms projectedinward and lying alongside the closed bimiling-arms, substantially as and for the purposes speeiied.

3. In a grain-binder, the packer-shaft, in combination with its drive-wheel mounted loosely thereon, the friction-clutch provided with diametrically-opposite radial lugs gft gw, the spring-lever ll, arranged to engage with one of said lugs at a certain Ixed point for unclutchingthe wheel from the packer-shaft, the bell-crank leverll, having one of its arms arranged to engage the spring-lever ll, and the rocking binding-arm shat't c and its operating crank-arm c", said crank-arm being arranged to engage the other arm of the bellcrank lever Il', substantially as and for the purposes specified.

et. In a grain-binder, the packers, in combination with a yielding grain-stop independent of both the compressor and trip-arm, against which the gavel is formed, substantially and for the purposes specified.

5. In a grain-binder, the packers, in combination with the yielding grain-stop d2, independent of the trip-arm and compressor, and the bnndle-discliarger Il', substantially as and l'or the purposes specified.

G. In a grain-binder, the bimling-arm, in combination with t-he packers, a yielding grai n-st op against which the gavel is formed, and an independent yielding trip-arm sepa- TIO rated entirely from the grain-stop and graduated to present less resistance than said stop, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

7. The bracket D, in combination with the shaft (Z secured thereto, the grain-stop d?, provided with an elongated hub, the spring da, the coinpressorD, composed of two separate arms mounted loosely on the hub of the grainstop and connected together near their outer ends, the arm d', to which the compressor is connected by sliding rod and spring, and the gear-sectors whereby said arm is vibrated, substantially as and for the purposes specified. f

8. In a grain-binder, the binding mechanism and its main or cam shaft arranged above the grain, in combination with a clutch-pawl attached to and carried by said shaft, a drivingwhecl mounted loosely on said shaft and connected thereto by the said pawl, a stop-arm, also arranged above the grain and in the path of the pawl, a trip-arm arranged above the grain and fixed on a rock-shaft, and a linkrod connectingl acrank-arm on said rock-shaft with the stop-arm, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

9. The main or cam shaft E,in combination with the wheel c, mounted loosely7 thereon and provided with a Harige-rim having projections e', as described, the spring clutch-pawl E3, carried by the shaft and adapted to engage the said projections, its toe being widened to project laterally beyond the rim of the wheel and turned forward to form a projection, c, radially'beyond the rim of said wheel, and the stop-arm arranged toV engage with the said projection c, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

lO. The main or cam shaft, in combination with a bracket, E', fastened thereto, a springpawl, e3, pivoted to the bracket, a locking projection, e, on the bracket, and the stop-arm arranged to engage both pawl and lock, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

ll. The bracket E', fastened to the main shaft and provided at its outer edge with a cam-surface, e7, and notch es, in combination with a spring-pawl pivoted to the bracket, the stop-arm, thc drive-wheel loose on the shaft, the yielding locking-bolt M, arranged to be engaged and depressed by the cam on the bracket and to just enter the notch therein at the'moment the pawl is disconnected from the wheel, and the lock-bolt spring of greater strength than the pawl-spring, whereby the thrust upon the bolt will throw the bracket forward slightly to seat the bolt in the notch after the pawl is disengaged from the Wheel, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

l2. rlhe main or cam shaft, in combination with the bracket E', fastened thereto and provided with the cam e7, and notch es, the lockarm et' on the bracket, the spring-pawl e3, pivoted to the bracket, the drive-wheel loose on the sha-ft and provided with projections e',

13. In a grain-binder, the breast-plate L,

provided with the bent slot l and the pivoted cord-placer P, arranged at one side of said slot and shaped to guide the cord into the knotting-hook, said cord-placer being provided'with mechanism whereby it is vibrated at the proper time downward and across the slot to bring the cord into proper position, in combination with a cord-support pivoted close to the breast-plate and arranged to stand normally direct across the slot therein, and mechanism whereby the said support is turned away from the slot just as the bundle is bound and returns to its place just before the binding-arm opens, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

la. The pivoted cutter S, in combination with the shaft s2, provided with the fork s' and bent crank-arm s3, and the cam s on the main or cam shaft, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

l5. The packers F', in combination with the links f' and the studs f2, sleeved to the rod a4 and adjustable lengthwise of said rod, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

1G. The packers F', in combination with the links f', the studs f2, to which said links are pivoted, and sleeves carrying the said studs and mounted on the rod a, said sleeves being independently adjustable yaround said rod as a center, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

l 7. In a grain-binder, the main or cam shaft, in combination with the packer-shaft, chainwheels mounted on each, and a single drivechain arranged and operating to drive both shafts, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

lS. In a grain-binder; the binding mechanism, in combination with the packing mechanism, chain-wheels constructed and arranged for driving each respectively, a single chain for driving said wheels, and a chain-driving wheel mounted on the frame of the binder, whereby the entire chaiirdriving mechanism is attached to an d removable with the binder, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

l). rlhe main or cam shaft E, in combination with the chain-wheel e, mounted loosely thereon, the packer-shaft F, the chain-wheel f, mounted loosely thereon, clutch mechanism for connecting and disconnecting the said Wheels and their respective shafts, a single chain, B', arranged to drive the wheels e and f, and the chain-wheel b3 mounted on the binder-frame, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

20. The main or cam shaft E, in combination with the chain-wheel e, mounted loosely thereon, the packer-shaft F, the chain-wheel f, mounted loosely thereon, clutch mechanism IIO for connecting mld disconnect-.ing the said 'substantially as :md :for the purposes Speciwheeis and their respective shaft-s, a single fied.

Chai11,B, @rimmed to drive the Wheels e and i i n f, the chain-whebei D, mounted 011 the bindei- GBORGL (n HUB F' frame, the gear-Wheel b2, attac-bgd to said XVitueSSes:

wheel b3, and the di'\in0'-Shaft B, provided XV. C. CORLIES,

with. L pinion engaging with Said wheel b2, A. M. BEST. 

